[Miron]

Scoring: IMP

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p - p - p - 1♣
p - 1♥ - p - 1♠
p - 1NT - p - 3♣
p - ?

1♣ = 2+♣ (1♦=4+♦, 1NT=11-14)
1♥ = 4+♥, if not GF could have longer ♦
1♠ = 4+♠, unbalanced (usually some singleton/void somewhere, could be also 5422 but this can be rebided with 1NT (15-17), 2♠ = 3+♠ 12-14)
3♣ = no strict agreement, in 1♣ - 1♥ - 3♣ = 15-18, 6+♣, if you have 19+ you rebid third color.

What will be your bid?

I passed.

What went wrong? Pass or 3♣? Or both? How should we bid?

Thanks for all opinions.

[Free]

First of all, bidding 1♥ (bypassing 1♦) is a matter of style, but ok. If you gonna play NT you don't want them to lead ♥...

I don't like 1♠. North has a reverse, he should show strength NOW. 1♠ is passable! (see several polls from the past)

Pass in the end is also no good choice imo. Partner is limit, you have maximum for NT, so game it is. Which one is pretty obvious imo: 3NT. Now North will probably bid 4♦ to show his entire shape, since he migth be afraid of the ♥ suit anyway.

Probably ending: 5♣

[Miron]

In our methods:
1♣ - p - 1♦: you can have 4♥ (or 4♠) only if you have also GF (say 12+ HCP)

1♣ - p - 1♥ - p
1♠ - p - 1NT
I'm not sure here, but imho this promises some small reserve (say 7+). I have not passed 1♠ and I have not bid 2♣ or 2♠.

[paulg]

I'm happy with the sequence but would bid 3NT instead of pass. It has good upside and, if not cold, they may need to find the lead to beat it.

As it happens partner is a good for his bid but the heart void suggests the slow route that has been taken.

p

[pclayton]

I'm fine with the auction up until this point.

3N looks easy enough looking at that super-max 3♣ call. I remember a hand from another post that jump shifted to 2♠ on a hand that was arguably worse than this.

I might or might not find a 3N call. I'm not getting anywhere near 5♣, however. In all honesty, with those soft red values, loose heart suit and non-club fit, I'm passing 3♣.

Frankly, I hate analyzing problems when I'm staring at pard's hand in the diagram. Its very tough to be objective.

[mikeh]

Nothing wrong with the auction until the final pass, and that is not clearly wrong. I think it is a pessimistic view given that NS are red at imps, and I would always bid 3N.. however, I would also expect 3N to fail quite often, so would never be surprised to lose imps against the conservative pass.

As for 1♠: it is exactly right. One poster said opener should 'reverse': whatever that means in this context. I suspect he meant: jumpshift, since there is no reverse available. I know of no true expert who would jump shift into 2♠ with this opening hand. Indeed, while there are many criteria to consider when evaluating the level of another player, and I am not saying that NO expert would bid 2♠, personally I would have grave doubts about the claim to expert status of a 2♠ rebidder on this hand. Make it AJxx AJx void AQJxxx and I can understand (but not agree with) 2♠.

[Fluffy]

Both 1♠ and final pass are arguable, but I wouldn't be surprised if I bid both of them.

North could bid 3NT after 1NT, but he was just being consistent with previous bid.

[han]

I agree with 1C-1H-1S-1NT of course. Then, north's 3C bid is a tad pessimistic, while south's pass is also on the pessimistic side. I can't fault either of those calls though.

[whereagles]

Both players had a couple of chances to avoid missing out on this one.

1. North might have bid 2♠ instead of 1, due to the fine club suit.
2. North might have bid 3NT instead of 3♣, again due to the club suit.
3. Since 3♣ is highly invitational, South might have bid 3NT over 3♣.

As I use to say, sometimes you have to take charge and make the final decision. You can't bid properly if you keep passing the ball to pard